RFS Liaison Officer

Scope

The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Liaison Officer (RFS LO) is the officer responsible for representing the RFS at an Incident Control Centre (ICC), or Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), where the RFS is assisting or cooperating with another agency controlling the incident. The RFS LO has delegated authority, in accordance with the key accountabilities below, to make operational decisions affecting the RFS participation at the incident.

Fundamental Protocols underpin the actions of all RFS members and must be adhered to at all times. They outline the Principles of being an RFS member and provide guidance on conduct to support the safety and wellbeing of members.

Key Accountabilities

• Establish a working location at the ICC/EOC and provide contact details to the Incident Controller (IC)/Emergency Operations Controller (EOCON), and the:
  • District Manager (DM) (for local liaison),
  • Area Commander (for regional liaison); or
  • Director State Operations (DSO)/State Operations Controller (SOC)/Deputy State Operations Controller (DSOC)/State Duty Operations Officer (SDOO) (for state liaison).
• Obtain a briefing from the IC/Incident Management Team (IMT)/EOCON.
• Attend planning meetings and briefings as required.
• Provide input into the availability, suitability and use of RFS resources.
• Collaborate with the IC/IMT/EOCON on RFS involvement at the incident.
• Brief the IC/IMT/EOCON of any special needs or requirements.
• Ensure that the welfare needs of RFS resources are considered and met whenever possible
• Determine any reporting or documentation required by the lead agency.
• Report to the DM (local liaison), Area Commander (regional liaison) or DSO/SOC/DSOC/SDOO (state liaison) on a regular basis.
• Ensure that all RFS personnel and equipment is tracked during the incident and released by the IC/EOCON prior to departure from the incident.
• Ensure that all RFS forms, reports, and documents are completed in relation to the incident in a timely manner (this includes Safety reporting through the RFS Safety Hub, operational logs, and other operational reporting).
• Maintain an operational log, preferably in CAD or ICON. Copies of any operational log books should be uploaded into ICON at the completion of the incident.
• Attend debriefing sessions with the IC/EOCON prior to departure from the incident.
• Prepare handover for next shift and brief incoming RFS LO.

Special Considerations

• RFS LOs:
  • Should meet the following rank and appointment requirements, in order to be authorised to commit agency resources:
    • Local Liaison Officers – Group Officers or staff officers of Level 2 or above and approved by the DM.
    • Regional Liaison Officers – staff officers of Inspector or above and approved by the Area Commander or Major Incident Coordinator (MIC).
    • State Liaison Officers – staff officers of Superintendent or above and approved by the DSO or SOC.
  • May be requested for incidents under the control of another agency.
  • Form part of interagency coordination and are supplementary to RFS command structures that are in place managing operations.
• The RFS LO reports directly to the IC/EOCON, and the:
  • DM (local liaison),
  • Area Commander (regional liaison); or
  • DSO/SOC/DSOC/SDOO (state liaison).

Related Information

• RFS Safety Hub